Downing Street Memo; Action Being Taken in Britain

[WebeBlue]

This comes to me from a colleague in England and is action being taken in Britain on the Downing Street Memo. Please read below the fold for details, and there is a Petition you can sign easily and quickly.



To: MFSO, Pacific Northwest and Partners

Re: Significant Event; Downing Street Memo Action Plan; Request from our own Judy Linehan, MFSO in Washington, she is in England now working with Military Families Against the War in Britain, a counterpart organization in Europe modelled after MFSO in USA.

Group and Partners; This event is a strong action in Britain to call Tony Blair to account with the now released Downing Street Memo showing war in Iraq planned as early as July 2002 and that selling of the war would be 'fixed' around policy. If you are not aware and up to speed on the Downing Street Memo, it is a significant smoking gun for both Bush and Blair. Google it and here is link http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1593607,00.html . I've also blogged the Downing Street Memo in my blog.

In the USA, there is no mainstream media news reporting on the Downing Street Memo save one lone newspaper; The Star Tribune. At this time in the USA, both Conyers and Kerry are beginning to take steps to call attention (and hopefully to account) the Downing Street Memo and the culpability of this Administration. See Judy's request from the other side of the pond below; and it would behoove us to have both sides of the pond working on this simultaneously, it has the potential we all yearn for in our efforts to Bring The Troops Home Now.

Thank you, Lietta

Lietta Ruger, a MFSO Pacific Northwest family
PO Box 335
Bay Center, WA, 98527
cell: 360-942-9169
website Military Families Speak Out, Pacific Northwest

my blog; Dying To Preserve the Lies


Feature Writer Topic, Military Families; Impact with Loved Ones Deployed to Iraq


To Give Dignity to Man is Above All Things; Native American proverb


Judy sends the below request: (Questions? Judy's email is [e-mail])

Hi Lietta,

Working feverishly to get the word out about the MFAW (our MFSO British counterpart) campaign. I've attached info for distribution. The Downing Street Minutes have been a lightening rod on both sides of the Atlantic. I'm sure you're in tune with www.downingstreet.org Bringing both these men to account will be such a force to impact out international justice system. And a public outcry & pressure is a most crucial factor.

Thanks so much!! It's a small group here. We need all your help!

In Peace & Solidarity,

Judy


A plea from Military Families Against the War in Britain to friends in America



Families of fallen British soldiers presented a demand for a “public inquiry into the decision to go to war in Iraq” to Tony Blair on 3 May 2005. He has now responded to them with an insulting letter containing such preposterous statements as, “The decision to take military action in Iraq was in no sense the immediate and direct operative cause of the deaths of the claimants’ relatives.” The Prime Minister’s stance of not answering the question continues without shame, & indeed a full reading of the text (to be viewed at http://www.mfaw.org.uk/) implies there is actually no question at all. The chronicles of the families’ endeavors are also available on the site.



Seventeen families stand firm in their resolve to pursue a full and open investigation into the execution of the Iraq war, to seek truth against all resistance; Military Families Against the War in America (MFSO) solidly supports them and asks for an international response on their behalf. We urgently and immediately need your help to proceed to the next stage. The families are taking their Prime Minister to the High Court in London. Legal action is always expensive and this case will be no exception. MFAW is determined that the families will be spared the court costs and have therefore undertaken to raise $75,000 over the next six months. Please help us help the families. Contributions can be made via mastercard/visa and paypal.



Your help will make all the difference. By bringing Blair to account, ½ of the unholy alliance of Bush and Blair, justice and accountability will also surely come around to knock at the door of the White House.



Public support is crucial to move the case forward; please sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/mfaw/petition.html. We thank you most heartily for the serious deliberation you give to this cause, and for your contribution to it. Please forward the message far and wide to all Peace & Justice lovers among your acquaintances.



In Peace and Solidarity,

Judy Linehan, MFSO member





Open Letter to the People of Britain



Our loved ones gave their lives in the service of this country. They all died in the Iraq war. When they went to that war they believed they were being sent to defend our country. They were told it was their duty to disarm the Saddam regime of its weapons of mass destruction (WMD). When enlisting, servicemen and women sign an oath of allegiance to Her Majesty's government. All they ask in return is that their government acts in an honourable, truthful and responsible manner, and only deploys troops into the theatre of war to risk their lives when absolutely necessary. We now believe that our Prime Minister, Tony Blair, misled the people of this country as to the true reasons for the war in Iraq. We believe that there was no serious evidence for WMD. We also believe that the assurances given by the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, as to the legality of the war are highly questionable. This is why we are calling for a full, independent and effective public inquiry into the decision to go to war in Iraq. We ask you to support our call. We must restore accountability to public life. Our loved ones deserve justice, and the people of this country deserve the truth.


Reg and Sally Keys Parents of Lance Corporal Thomas Keys

Rose and George Gentle Parents of Fusilier Gordon Gentle

John and Marilyn Miller Parents of Corporal Simon Miller

Tony Hamilton-Jewell Brother of Sergeant Simon Hamilton-Jewell

Peter Brierley Father of Lance Corporal Shaun Brierley

Anna Aston Wife of Corporal Russell Aston

George and Ann Lawrence Parents of Lieutenant Marc Lawrence

Tracey Pritchard Wife of Corporal Dewi Pritchard

Patricia Long Mother of Corporal Paul Long

Sharon Hehir Wife of Sergeant Les Hehir

Lianne Seymour Wife of Operator Mechanic 2nd Class Ian Seymour

Debbie Allbutt Wife of Corporal Stephen Allbutt

Theresa Evans Mother of Lance Bombardier Llywelyn Karl Evans

Roy and Eileen Shearer Parents of Lance Corporal Karl Shearer

Richard and Karen Green Parents of Lieutenant Philip Green

Beverley Clarke Mother of Trooper David Clarke
James and Rae Craw Parents of Corporal Andrew Craw

[halobeam]

1. signed...

wonder if the petition link should have it's own thread to get the ball rolling?

[me b zola]

2. signed

now it's time for hubbie to sign :)

[WebeBlue]

4. TY both for signing

I know the entry is too long, and I could have shortened it, but thought it relevant how it came to my attention.

Is there something I can do to construct it differently, post it differently that will get more attention = signatures to the petition?

[OffWithTheirHeads]

3. #506

[WebeBlue]

5. What does #506 Mean?

Maybe I'm too dense to 'get it' ?

[OffWithTheirHeads]

6. Means that I am the 506th person to sign.

[WebeBlue]

8. Duh, dense here, I'm #486 and TY for signing. n/t

[Selatius]

7. AOL Time Warner, ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX Corp. need to be broken up

I only wished this could be used as an issue to also begin the push for the enforcement of anti-trust laws, and if they are found not to be breaking anti-trust laws, then they should be broken up after new legislation is passed, and on top of that, I think we should be looking into a socialized news network as well that would operate on the local and regional level by the people directly.

[Karenina]

9. Kick!

:kick: